Multiple Olympic Gold Medalist CARL LEWIS has backed Tokyo's bid to host the 2020 Olympic Games, "hailing the Japanese city's strong pedigree for organizing big sporting events," according to Patrick Johnston of REUTERS. The nine-time Olympic champion visited Japan's National Stadium on Monday, a venue where he set two world records in the '91 world athletics championships and "narrowly lost arguably the greatest long jump final" to compatriot MIKE POWELL. Lewis said, "I have obviously tremendous memories of that and that was without question my best track meet ever." Lewis offered to reassure those connected with the Japanese bid that "they had a strong offer" and did not need to make drastic changes to their proposals. Lewis said, "I don't think you have to recreate the wheel here; everyone knows they can do a tremendous job" (REUTERS, 3/25).